Single-conductor disconnecter



June 10, 1930. s. P. EDMONDS SINGLE CONDUCTOR DISCONNECTER 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 20, 1925 June 10, 1930. a. P. EDMONDS,1,762,509

S INGILE CONDUCTOR DISCONNECTER Filed May 20, 1925 2 Shoots-Sheet 2 & IE5 g Patented June 10, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GEORGE I.EDMONDS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO G. 86 W. ELECTRIC SPECIALTY00., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS SINGLECONDUCTORDISCONNECTER Application filed May 20,

This invention relates to a single conductor disconnecter.

One object of the invention is to provide simple, reliable and efiicientmeans for electrically connecting and disconnecting electricalconductors in a manner insuring good electrical contact bet-ween theconductors, and which permits of ready electrical disconnection of saidconductors.

Another object is to provide a disconnecter in which the main contactparts are positively locked against accidental disconnection, and whichmay be readily disconnected when it is desired.

Another object is to provide an electrical disconnecter for electricalconductors of the. pothead type, in which the parts cooperate in a newand improved manner to produce efiicient results, and whereby burning ofthe main contacts is avoided.

Another object is to provide a device of the class described which issafe to handle and adapted to meet all of the requirements under serviceconditions.

These and other objects are accomplished by means of the arrangementsdisclosed on the accompanying sheets of drawings, in which Fig. 1 is avertical longitudinal sectional view of a pothead type of single cabledisconnecter embodying my invention, the parts being shown aselectrically connected;

Fig. 2 is a similar vertical longitudinal sectional view showingthe samearrangement with the connecter rod in its inoperative position forelectrically disconnecting the table contact lugs;

- Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view taken in the plane of line 33 ofFig. 1; v

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the arrangement shown in Fig. 1, and

Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are fragmentary detail sectional views showing variousmodifications of the electrical connections between one of the cablecontact lugs and the contact rod.

The various novel features of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description and drawings, and will be particularly pointed outin the appended claims.

Referring generally to the figures of the 1925. Serial No. 31,521.

drawings, it will be noted that my present invention is illustrated inconnection with a pothead type of single conductor disconnecter in whichthe pothead, taking the form of a porcelain tube 10, is secured betweentwo clamping members 11 and 12, the latter of which is provided withbracket portions 13 for attachment to any suitable support, such as apole. 1

Referring now particularly to Figs. 1, 2 and 4, it will be noted that anaerial cable terminal 14 is secured to a cable contact lug 15 by anysuitable means such as 16. The cable contact lug 15 includes a centralcylindrical portion 17, the lower end of which is enlarged at 18 and hasvertically-extending teeth 19 which are interlocked with cooperatingportions in a cementing ring 20. Gaskets 21 are interposed between theenlarged portion 18 of the contact lug and a portion of the cementingring 20, and other gaskets 22 are interposed between said cementing ring20 and the top of the porcelain tube 10 and a cap 23, the latter ofwhich is mounted over the gaskets 22. A nut 24 engages threads at theupper end of the cylindrical portion 17 0f the contact lug for clampingthe cap 23 in position and firmly securing the cable contact lug in itssupported position with respect to the porcelain tube 10. Theintermediate cylindrical portion 17 of the cable contact lug has a guidesocket 25 for the reception of a cooperating guide pin 26 formed at theupper end of a contact rod 27. Also the enlarged portion 18 of thecontact lug is internally threaded for the reception of a cooperatinginterfitting threaded portion 2801 said contact rod 27. As will. beexplained later, the threaded portions of the contact lug 15 and thecontact rod 27 are for the purpose of locking said rod to said lug forpreventing accidental disconnection between said parts.

Cemented into the lower end. of the insulating tube 10 is an annularcontact 29 having a cable lug 30 which is secured to a ground cableterminal 31 in any suitable manner, such as by screws32. The annularcontact 29 is internally threaded at 33 for the reception of anintermediate contact ring 34, which has a central annular opening 35through which the contact rod 27 extends. Secured to the contact rod 27are yieldablc auxiliary contact or arcing tips 36 which with the contactmember 36 form an electrical connection between the contact ring 34 andthe contact rod 27, or, as a matter of fact, said contact members forman electrical connection between the cable contact lug 30 and thecontact rod 27. In other words, the contact rod 27 is partiallyyieldably or flexibly electrically connected at its lower end to thecable contact lug 30 through the spring contact members 36, and theupper end of the contact rod 27 is electrically connected to theuppercontact lug 15, through the interengaging threaded portions of saidcontact rod and lug.

As shown in Fig. 1, the contact rod 27 is locked in its operativeposition by virtue of the interengaging threaded portions of the contactlug 27 and contact cable lug 15, the rod 27 having been moved into suchposition by a handle 37 secured to the lower end of the rod 27, therebeing an insulating disk 37 between the handle 37 and the rod 27 forprotecting the operators hand. It will be understood that thecooperating interfitting guide portions 25 and 26 of the upper contactlug 15 and rod 27 guide the rod'in its upper vertical movement forbringing the interengaging threaded portions into operative association.As shown in Fig. 2, the cable terminals 14 and 31 are electricallydisconnected because the contact rod 27 has been electricallydisconnected from said parts. In breaking said electrical connection, itwill be observed that the circuit is broken at the arcing tips 36 toprevent burning of the contacts at the interengaging threaded portionsof the contact rod 27 and portion 18 of contact lug 15. This is insuredby so proportioning the arcing tips with reference to the length of thearcing opening and the length of the cooperating members 25 and 26, thatsaid members 25 and 26 will not be electrically disconnected before thearcing tips 36 and the Walls of the annular opening 35 are disconnected.Like wise the circuit is finally established by engagement of thecontact tips 36 and the contact ring 34.

It will be noted, reference being had to Fig. 2, that when the contactrod 27 is in its lower or inoperative position, said rod is notelectrically connected to the contact ring 34. As a matter of fact, forsafety purposes, it is insulated therefrom by a porcelain buslr ing 38which is secured to a flange portion 39 of the rod 27 by screws 40. Anannular shoulder portion 41 of said bushing 38 rests upon and issupported by the intermediate contact ring 34 so that normally it isimpossible for the contact rod 27 to fall away from the tube 10. If itis desired to remove the contact rod 27 from the tube 10, such may beaccomplished by first removing the intermediate contact ring 34.

Referring particularly to Fig. 7, it will be noted that the constructionis substantially 'the same, with the exception that the contact tips 42are slightly different in shape. In the modification shown in Fig. 5,contact tips 43 are provided which are supported at both ends for makingthe electrical connection more positive. In this modification the cablestrands 44 are clamped between and electrically connected to conductingrings 45 and 46, the former of which is electrically connected to thecontact ring 45. In Fig. 6 the arrangement is substantially identicalwith that shown in Fig. 5, with the exception that contact tips 47 ofthe loop type are provided for giving greater strength and durability.In Figure 7. the arcing tips 42 are so disposed as to have the collarportion thereof substantially parallel to the walls of the annularopening in the member 34. It will be understood, however, that therewill be a slight spring action, which in disconnected position willcause the arcing tips 42 to assume an obtuse angle between the leg ofthe arcing tip fastened to the contact member 42 and the upstanding leg.

There may be various other modifications of the invention. and it is myintention to cover all such modifications which do not involve adeparture from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in thefollowing claims.

I claim:

1. In a device of the class described, the combination of an insulatingtube, a plurality of spaced contact members carried thereby. a contactrod for forming an electrical connection between said contact members,said rod and one of said contact members having cooperating interlittinglocking portions for positively locking said contact rod in operativeposition, and an insulating bushing surrounding said contact rod forprotection purposes and adapted to rest upon one of said contact memberswhen said rod is in an inoperative position.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination of an insulatingtube, a plurality of spaced contact members carried thereby, a contactrod for forming an electrical connection between said spaced contactmembers, said rod and one of said members having interengaging threadedportions for locking same in operative position, and guide means forguiding said threaded portions into engagement with each other.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination of an insulatingtube, a plurality of spaced contact members carried thereby a contactrod for forming an electrical connection between said spaced contactmen'ibers, said rod and one of said members having interengagingthreaded portions for locking same in operative position, guide meansfor guiding said threaded portions into engagement with each other, andmeans for supporting said rod with respect to said tube in aninoperative position.

4.'In a device of the class described, the combination of airinsulatingtube, a contact supported at one end thereof, a contact ring supportedat the other end thereof,- a contact rod having a portion adapted tointerlit with said contact member, and yieldable contacts carried bysaid contact rod for making and breaking the electrical circuit at saidcontact ring.

5. In a device. of the class described, the combination of an insulatingtube, a contact supported at one end thereof, a contact ring supportedat the other end thereof, a contact rod having a portion adapted tointerfit with said contact member, yieldable con tacts -arried by saidcontact rod for makin and breaking the electrical circuit at saidcontact ring, and an insulating bushing carried by said rod forprotection purposes and adapted to engage said ring W men said rod is ininoperative position for supporting the rod in said position.

(5. In a device of the class described, the combination of an insulatingtube, a contact member carried thereby and having a guide socket and athreadedportion, a second contact member carried by said tube, and acontact rod for forming an electrical connection between said contactmembers, one end of said rod having a guide pin adapted to cooperatewith said guide socket and having a threaded portion adapted tocooperate wlth the treaded portion of one of said contact members forlocking said contact rod in position.

7. In a device of the class described, the combination of an insulatingtube, a contact member carried thereby and having a guide socket and athreaded portion, a second contact member carried by said tube, acontact rod for forming an electrical connection between said contactmcn'ibcrs, one end of said rod having a guide. pin adapted to cooperatewith said guide socket and having a threaded portion adapted tocooperate with the threaded portion of one of said contact members forlocking said contact rod in position, and arcing tips carried by saidcontact rod and electrically associated with the other of said contactmembers to prevent arcing between said rod and the first of said contactmembers. I

, 8. In a device of the character described, the combination with aninsulating member, a plgrality of spaced contacts carried thereby, amovable connecting member adapted to electrically connect said spacedcontacts, saidconnecting member having a plurality of contacting meansfor cooperating with each of said spaced contacts, one of said meansproviding an interlock in electrical connection and the other of saidmeans comprising a contact means and an aaxiliar contact means, saidauxiliary means provid ing at making and breaking connection be tweensaid spaced contacts for the purpose described.

f). In a. device of the character described, the combination with aninsulating member,

a plurality of spaced contacts therein, a mem ber movable to connectingposition between contacts, said member comprising a plurality of meanscooperating with each of said spaced contacts in operative position, andinsulating means carried by one of said first named means adapted tocooperate with one of said spaced contacts to support said movablemember in inoperative position.

10. In a device of the class described, the

combination of an insulating tube, a plurality of spaced contact memberscarried thereby, a contact rod for forming an electrical connectionbetween said contact members, said rod and one of said contact membershaving cooperating guide means for guiding said rod into electricalcontact forming position, and means cooperating with said rod and one ofsaid contact members for breaking the circuit when said rod is moved toelectrical disconnect position, said means operating prior todisconnecting said rod and said first named contact member.

Signed at Chicago, Illinois, this 19th day of May, 1925.

GEORGE P. EDMONDS.

